The best coach in America, the best running back in America, the best linebacker in America and the best punt returner in America will be wearing crimson – not purple and gold -- Saturday. These four guys aren’t just extraordinary at their particular craft. They have something else that sets them apart. Something inside of them.
Call it a will to win.
Call it an unquenchable drive to succeed.
Call it quiet confidence.
Call it an absolute refusal to lose.
Call it whatever the heck you want. It may be all of those things wrapped into one. It may be something different. All I know is that if you were in a fox hole or a dark alley or on an out-of-control airplane these are the four human beings you would want beside you. One way or another, you’d know you would come out the other side unscathed.
Nick Saban, Mark Ingram, Rolando McClain and Javier Arenas all spoke to the media this week. Their words? It doesn’t matter. For the most part, they said what they’re supposed to say before a colossal college football showdown. I know because I took notes and afterwards wondered how to write something unique out of not-so-unique phraseology.
Sometimes, though, there just isn’t anything to write. Not when the real communication is a simple look in the eye. An unspoken non-verbal. A silent vibe. And all four communicated plenty in those areas.
Last week, I saw Saturday’s game as ...
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